I’ll dig up some previously unseen, and worth-another-see pics. I’m always posting low-quality, unedited pictures on facebook, and I wanted to change things up. So even though I didn’t take most/any of these, they will be more in my style: too green with the contrast too high. You’re welcome.

The last time I posted was before Easter, so let me start with my San Diego trip. Robin and I flew to Southern California a few days after Easter so that we could meet little David for the first time! I was so excited that Betsy, children, and Nick were going to be there too. Sibling power! (Robert is a given because he lives in S.D.)

Floating Dad head!

My nephew David is so round and sweet! Like a little watermelon. Or a grape.

Disgruntled babes

Sidenote: when we used to play Anne of Green Gables, Emmy was always Anne and I was Diana, because her hair color was closer to red, and mine was closer to black. Obviously neither are either, but you work with what you have.

It was so nice to see my family! We wanted lots of cute cousin pics but the subjects were always wriggly and mostly uncooperative.

The person who designed swings like this was asking for it!

The dark and curly-haired

I think this one is going to be a classic

Love this picture of Emmy! (Good job, Betsy!)

Robert’s drinking a magical elixir

in the thick with uncle nick

Her cousins are no longer used to her stench

cutest baby in the sink

Robin’s turn!

While we were gone, Robin’s crib came in the mail from her Chayrez grandparents, and Aurelio put it together so it was ready when we got home. I really love it!

Here are some more angles of her room!

I want to paint the changing table!

too many angles?

A pic with her Dad:

sweethearts

And Mum:

We just wanna have fun

Despite the fact that I’m an unmotivated underachiever, I started to worry slightly at Robin’s lack of developmental progress. However, she finally started sitting up on her own, and in a few short weeks, has become a pro.

It’s time for some video proof!

I love the goofy ghetto dancing she starts doing in the middle of the video

Unfortunately, she has been slightly rashy for a while, growing ever rashier, and things came to a red and bumpy climax this past week. We cut out all solids (AGAIN) and of course it went away in a few days. Now we hope to responsibly reintroduce foods so we can tell what’s causing the reaction. You know, the way you’re supposed to do it? Today we gave her some cottage cheese and she seemed to do ok. I have really set myself up for stressful failure here by delaying solids, since I’m running out of milk and she’s allergic to everything in the world. She’s going to waste away!

Starting with her legs.

I think that’s all the info and media updates I’ve been wanting to share, in no particular order, really.

One of my character strengths, according to Clifton’s strengths finder, is Input.

basically

The term “input” has nothing to do with the fact that I interrupt people constantly or think I have so much important advice to offer; that’s just a funny coincidence. (Whether it’s funny-ha-ha or funny-peculiar is obvious, I think.)

If you want to read the whole long thing (I would find it interesting!) here’s the description: “You are inquisitive. You collect things. You might collect information—words, facts, books, and quotations—or you might collect tangible objects. Whatever you collect, you collect it because it interests you. And yours is the kind of mind that finds so many things interesting. If you read a great deal, it is not necessarily to refine your theories but, rather, to add more information to your archives. If you like to travel, it is because each new location offers novel artifacts and facts. These can be acquired and then stored away. Why are they worth storing? At the time of storing it is often hard to say exactly when or why you might need them, but who knows when they might become useful? With all those possible uses in mind, you really don’t feel comfortable throwing anything away. So you keep acquiring and compiling and filing stuff away. It’s interesting. And perhaps one day some of it will prove valuable.”

Anyway, what that translates to in real life (aside from not wanting Austin to throw away sponges because we could totally wash them and use them for cleaning and stuff) is the fact that I am constantly googling things, like “lyrics to Auld Lang Syne” and then spending 20 minutes reading about Robert Burns. It’s a curse, really. (Again, just ask Austin.)